Review your homeowners policy and understand what it does and does not cover. Many homeowners are unaware that damage caused by flooding resulting from a hurricane is not covered by their homeowners insurance. If you live in a coastal area, even if you are not in a low-lying area, you might want to consider purchasing flood insurance. Do not wait too long to do this, as most policies are usually not effective until after 30 days.

The rapid adoption of Wi-Fi enabled devices has allowed for an increase in what are called “non-monitored” systems. These are security systems that are set up in a home, but are not connected to an alarm company. While these types of systems do offer an additional level of home protection, they might not qualify for a discount on homeowners or renters insurance premiums. Check with your agent or carrier to find out more about what types of home security system installations might qualify for a discount.

News headlines in 2017 were dominated for weeks at a time with coverage of natural disasters striking parts of the United States — from Hurricane Harvey flooding homes in Houston, to Hurricane Irma destroying houses in Florida, to wildfires decimating swaths of homes in California. All told, the costs of these incidents are likely to make 2017 the costliest year on record for natural disasters.